Sources: LASIK Clinical Trials and Studies
PROWL: LASIK Quality of Life Collaboration Project (2017)
“Participants who developed new visual symptoms after surgery, most often developed halos. Up to 40 percent of participants with no halos before LASIK had halos three months following surgery.”
“Up to 28 percent of participants with no symptoms of dry eyes before LASIK, reported dry eye symptoms at three months after their surgery. This is consistent with previous studies.”
Read more: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/lasik-quality-life-collaboration-project
Since everyone keeps claiming LASIK is super safe and has a 99% success rate and keeps calling me a liar and a fear monger bc I say it's not and that the industry LIES, here's an ENTIRE thread of receipts (recreated with permission from one of my support groups):
— Chris Alvino (@ChrisAlvino) June 30, 2024
Laser in Situ Keratomileusis Outcomes and Complications: 2016 to 2023
Exceprt: “Eleven studies (5,637 eyes) reported the total postoperative prevalence of visual symptoms with a median follow-up of 6 months (range: 3 to 60 months) (Figure 5A). Among these, starburst was the most frequently reported visual disturbance (39.43%), followed by glare (28.22%). … Difficulty with night driving was reported by 15.45% of patients”
Source: Susanna BN, Mohan N, Santhiago MR, Randleman JB. Laser in Situ Keratomileusis Outcomes and Complications: 2016 to 2023. Journal of Refractive Surgery. 2025;41(4):e391-e403. doi:10.3928/1081597X-20250312-01
https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/1081597X-20250312-01
Outcomes of LASIK for myopia with FDA-approved lasers
FDA clinical trials demonstrate alarming numbers of patients experience complications such as dry eyes and night vision problems after LASIK. A published review of data from twelve FDA clinical trials for LASIK, including newer “custom” “wavefront” technology, reveals that six months after LASIK:
- 17.5% of patients report halos
- 19.7% report glare (starbursts)
- 19.3% have night-driving problems
- 21% complain of eye dryness.
Source: Bailey MD, Zadnik K. Outcomes of LASIK for myopia with FDA-approved lasers. Cornea 2007 Apr;26(3):246-54.
Japan Consumer Affairs Agency Survey
- 43% reported problems (see Q11).
- One in four reported not having improved eyesight.
